Bondi Beach Shooting Responders Honoured At Sydney Ashes Test

Sydney : England and Australia cricket teams, emergency service personnel and citizens who responded to a mass shooting at Bondi Beach during the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney on Sunday were rewarded.

The guard of honor on the field before the match was accompanied by loud applause from the sold-out crowd.

The biggest cheer came when hero Ahmed al-Ahmad came out, running towards one of the attackers and wresting the gun from his hands.

Father and son Sajid and Naveed Akram are accused of targeting a Hanukkah event held on a beach not far from the Sydney Cricket Ground on December 14.

Fifteen people were killed and dozens injured in what authorities described as an anti-Semitic terrorist attack.

Cricket Australia chief Todd Greenberg called it a “devastating tragedy”.

“The incredible acts of bravery demonstrated by first responders and community members at the scene of the Bondi attack were a reminder of the spirit of community and sacrifice that unites us as a nation,” he said.

“Our thoughts remain with those affected by this devastating tragedy and we, as a sport, will continue to provide whatever support we can.”

Among those honored were ambulance workers and police officers, surf lifeguards and Jewish community groups.

An increased security operation is being carried out for the testing, with uniformed and mounted police as well as public order and riot police teams patrolling the area.

The measures mirror those at the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, where specialist police were armed with semi-automatic rifles.